Why is there this "confusion" about the academic boycott?

If you have been following the recent imbroglio involving Sid Ryan and the academic boycott, you will have noticed that Sid initially called for a boycott of Israeli academics unless they took the "right" side and condemned Israel. When this was rightly condemned as racist and intolerant and incompatible with academic freedom, Sid "clarified" the issue and insisted that he was only after an "institutional" boycott. However, we have seen this playbook before. In 2004-2006, to be exact. The PACBI call for an academic boycott was originally a call for the boycott of Israeli academics (unless they were "good" Israelis) which was then "clarified" as being an institutional boycott. Hmm. Inquiring minds want to know why this happens? Could it be a cynical attempt to garner more press and controversy? Never.